IPOH: Two teenage girls were nearly kidnapped in two separate incidences at the main road near the Kampung Padang Muslim burial ground in Gerik.
Perak deputy police chief Deputy Comm Zulkafli Sariaat said both the victims are 14 years old.
He said the first case happened on Monday (Oct 21) while the victim was cycling to school at 6.45am. A grey-coloured van blocked her, while a white van tried to box her in.
“Luckily, a woman who witnessed the incident called out to the victim. This caused both the vans to leave the area,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Oct 23)
The second incident occurred on Tuesday (Oct 22). DCP Zulkafli said it happened at about 3.20pm, when the second victim was walking back from school to her house in Kampung Padang.
He said a white van came very close to the victim, and two unknown men wearing face masks tried to snatch her school bag and dragged her.
“The victim fell, and her brother saved her. He kicked one of the suspects, and both managed to escape,” he said.
The police report of both incidents was lodged on Wednesday.
He said investigations are ongoing, and as a proactive measure, police are patrolling areas near schools, villages, and potential areas where crimes could occur.
“We would like to advise parents to pay more attention to the safety of their children and to send and fetch their children from schools to prevent any untoward incidents from happening.
“Parents must also advise their children not to follow or go close to unknown individuals,” he said.
DCP Zulkafli said efforts to trace witnesses and the suspects are ongoing.
Those with information on the incident are urged to come forward to the nearest police station.
